Restaurant Owners - How You Can Win December: The Only Digital Marketing Strategy You Can’t Afford to Ignore
If October is the quiet whisper of “let’s plan,” and November is the gentle nudge of “we should probably start,” then December is the dramatic screaming relative who shows up unannounced yelling, “HAVE YOU DONE YOUR MARKETING?!”
For restaurateurs, December isn't just another month - it’s the IPL, the festival season, the grand finale of F&B revenue… all squeezed into 31 very intense days. Footfalls rise, customers splurge, tables overflow, and your digital presence becomes a decisive factor in whether you’re fully booked or scrolling through your competitors’ Instagram Stories like a tragic rom-com montage.
So let’s talk about how to squeeze every ounce of opportunity out of December without pulling your hair out or checking your Zomato dashboard every 15 seconds.
1. Prep Early or Prepare for Chaos
December rewards the organised. Everyone else? They get stress, regret, and shaky “We’ll do better next year” promises.
Start with:
A December Content Calendar
Festive brunches, corporate bookings, Christmas specials, themed nights, New Year’s Eve packages - the whole shebang. If it’s not planned in November, December becomes a live-action fire drill.
Promo strategy + budgets
Nothing hurts more than boosting the wrong post on December 23rd and realising it’s performing worse than your intern’s selfie.
Team alignment
Front-of-house, kitchen, marketing, even that one part-time Santa mascot - they all need to know the plan.
2. Digital Presence = Your December Lifeline 
Customers don’t just walk in anymore. They research, scroll, stalk, analyse, and then walk in.
Your social media in December is:
- Your shop window
- Your storyteller
- Your hype machine
- Your FOMO factory
So show up. Loudly and consistently.
Post More Than You Usually Do
Because the algorithm has the memory of a goldfish and the loyalty of a cat.
Your December content should include:
- Menu launches
- Decor reveals
- Event announcements
- Behind-the-scenes kitchen fun
- Staff introductions
Reels of food that make people forget their diet plans
3. FOMO: Build It Like a Christmas Tree
If people feel they’ll miss something, they’ll move mountains (or at least traffic jams) to get to you.
Some FOMO triggers:
- Countdown posts: “5 Days to the Christmas Feast Explosion!”
- “Last few tables left” stories
- Showing DMs and booking requests
- Spotlighting viral dishes
- “Chef’s Limited Batch” specials
If you make December at your restaurant look like the party of the year, people will want to be in it.
4. Google My Business: The Silent Heavyweight Champion
While Instagram builds dreams, Google builds footfall. People aren’t just scrolling; they’re searching:
- “Best Christmas dinner near me”
- “New Year party Bangalore”
- “Restaurants open late on 31st”
So your GMB should be spotless and sparkling:
GMB Essentials:
✔ Updated festive hours
✔ Photos (high-quality, not grainy CCTV screenshots)
✔ Festive menus uploaded
✔ New-year promos highlighted
✔ Active weekly updates
✔ Reviews responded to
Google rewards freshness. December rewards visibility.
5. Paid Ads: Because Organic Alone Won’t Cut It in December
Organic reach in December is like trying to get a table at a packed brewery without a reservation - possible, but unlikely.
Run ads for:
- Event nights
- Festive brunch menus
- Christmas specials
- NYE packages
Target:
- Nearby audiences
- Foodies
- Corporate crowd
- People searching for experiences
Remember: Ad prices rise in December. Start early or prepare to pay the “festive premium.”
6. Photoshoots: Your Secret December Superpower
If your dishes are delicious but not photographed well, you are basically hiding your best assets.
December is the month where visuals decide sales.
So invest in a festive photoshoot that covers:
- Hero shots of your menu
- Cake, desserts, cocktails (bonus points for smoke, sparkles, and slow-motion pours)
- Decor and ambience
- Table spreads
- Happy customers (more on human content later)
- Aerial shots of parties and brunches
- Staff candid moments
Why a professional shoot?
Because badly lit food looks like regret, and regret doesn’t convert into bookings.
Professional photos:
✔ Increase ad performance
✔ Boost Instagram reach
✔ Make menus pop
✔ Create irresistible posters
✔ Help influencers create better content
Think of it as your December wardrobe—we’re going glam.
7. Human-Centric Content: The December Cheat Code
People don’t just want to see food. They want to see FEELING.
And nothing captures emotion better than human-led content.
What is human content?
Any content where the stars are:
- Your team
- Your customers
- Your chef
- Your bartenders
- Your hosts
- Your stories
This content performs insanely well because humans trust humans—not plates.
Human content ideas for December:
✔ Staff Stories
A reel introducing your chef:
“Meet Chef Aaron, the man behind the 17-ingredient Christmas roast and the 0-ingredient jokes.”
✔ “A Day in December at Our Restaurant”
Show the prep, the rush, the laughter, the chaos—people LOVE this.
✔ Customer Reactions
Record people tasting your special dessert for the first time.
Those “OMG” reactions? Gold.
✔ Mini Interviews
“What brings you here today?”
“Which dish are you excited about?”
Instant authenticity.
✔ BTS of Decor & Prep
From hanging lights to plating the Christmas special—humans connect to effort.
✔ Staff dancing or singing
Simple, fun, festive.
December = maximum engagement month.
Why does this content work?
Because people choose restaurants based on how a place feels, not just what it serves.
Human content builds:
✔ Trust
✔ Emotion
✔ Shareability
✔ Loyalty
✔ Brand personality
It makes your restaurant seem alive—and in December, people want alive.
8. Influencers: Quality Over Quantity
Don’t invite 25 random influencers. Invite 5 really good ones.
Don't forget December is a busy month for influencers too. Book them early and avoid disappointments and high charges later.
Choose:
- Creators with impressive food photography
- People who match your brand personality
- Micro-creators whose followers actually try recommendations
Plan:
- A curated tasting menu
- Decor background they can shoot against
- A brand story briefing so they highlight what matters
Influencers create content that lives long beyond December—and helps you win January too.
9. Make Your Restaurant Instagrammable Just Enough
You don’t need a full-blown Santa Village. Just some smart, classy touches.
Add:
- Fairy lights
- A festive photospot
- A cute Christmas or NYE neon
- Beautiful plating
- Signature cocktails with theatrical elements
- A theme night (Retro Christmas? Disco NYE?)
Give people content opportunities, and they’ll market for you for free.
11. Your Website: Don't Ignore the Silent Money-Maker
Your website is your digital home. And during December, people visit your website with one intention: to book.
So make it COUNT.
What your website MUST have in December:
⭐ A Hero Banner That Screams December
Think big, bold festival visuals:
“Christmas Specials Now Live!”
“Book Your New Year’s Eve Dinner!”
“Corporate Party Packages Available”
Eye-catching. Festive. Impossible to ignore.
⭐ Event Pages
Dedicated pages for:
- Christmas brunch
- NYE dinner
- Corporate bookings
- Holiday buffets
Each with photos, menus, pricing, and a big shiny Book Now button.
⭐ Mobile Optimisation (Non-Negotiable)
Most December searches happen on phone while people are:
- Stuck in traffic
- Planning with friends
- Browsing in office meetings
If your site loads slowly → you lose them.
⭐ A Booking Widget That Actually Works
If your reservation system is confusing in December, you are basically scaring customers away.
⭐ Menu Pages With Photos
Not PDFs. Not blurry screenshots.
Actual scroll-friendly, mouth-watering menu visuals.
⭐ SEO Keywords
Because people search:
- “Best Christmas dinner near me”
- “NYE events Bangalore”
- “Brunch places for year-end party”
If your website matches these keywords?
Traffic. Bookings. Profit.
A great website reduces phone calls, increases reservations, and makes your restaurant look 10x more premium.
Final Thoughts on Restaurant Marketing for December
December is magical, chaotic, profitable, stressful, exciting—and full of opportunity. Your digital presence in this month can make or break your revenue curve for the whole year.
So don’t just participate. Dominate.
- Be the place everyone is posting about.
- Be the restaurant showing up in every search.
- Be the venue influencers love walking into.
- Be the FOMO spot of the season.
Because once December passes… comes January.
The Detox Month.
The Quiet Month.
The “No, bro, I’m not eating out—I’m saving money” Month.